A free playground inspection checklist for parish, town, and community councils — the same checks built into Civic.ly's standard library. Weekly visual checks of play equipment are what most insurers expect (and what a RoSPA inspector will ask about), so the lists below are split the way the work is actually done: a quick per-equipment check for each item of play kit, and an area sweep for the playground as a whole.
Swing check (weekly)
For each swing set — a minute per item:
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Slide check (weekly)
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Climbing frame check (weekly)
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Roundabout check (weekly)
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Seesaw check (weekly)
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Multi play unit check (weekly)
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Anything else: basic play check
For play equipment without a specific checklist above:
- Ground Surface Condition
- Hazardous Protrusions
- Overall Condition
- Surface Cleanliness
Playground area sweep
The walk-round of the playground as a space — surfaces, boundaries, hazards:
- Fencing & barriers
- Gates
- Trip Hazards
- Slip Hazards
- Safety surfacing
- Litter
- Dog Fouling
- Play & fitness equipment
- Benches & seating
- Bins
- Signage
- Graffiti & vandalism
- Posts & bollards
- Cleanliness
- Sports equipment
- Overall Condition
Using this checklist in Civic.ly
Every checklist on this page is built into Civic.ly as a standard template — you don't need to recreate it. Add the asset, schedule the inspection (standalone or via a routine), pick the checklist, and the questions above appear on your team's phones, with failed items raising defects automatically. For the different ways to structure the regime — and their trade-offs — see How to Inspect Parks and Playgrounds.
Common questions
Q: How often should play equipment be inspected? A: Most councils run a weekly visual check plus an annual independent inspection (e.g. RoSPA). Check your insurance policy — some specify the frequency as a condition of cover.
Q: Does the weekly check replace the annual RoSPA inspection? A: No — the annual inspection is done by an accredited external inspector. The weekly checks are your operational layer, and the record that shows you acted between annual visits.